Virtual fundraiser throughout April to mark 35th anniversary of Chernobyl disaster

CCI will walk a kilometre to mark each year since the tragedy

By Stuart Tynan

THIS year marks the 35th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, with UN Chernobyl Remembrance Day taking place on Monday, April 26.

Chernobyl Children International (CCI) are the sole organisation working in the Chernobyl area to be accredited with United Nations official NGO status, and, in 2016, the lobbying of the UN successfully resulted in the declaration of April 26 as UN Chernobyl Remembrance Day.

CCI’s work is built from love and compassion and the core of CCI’s belief is that every life is precious, every life is sacred. For over three decades, CCI has reached 1.65 million people throughout the Chernobyl regions through a wide variety of programmes including de-institutionalisation, orphanage alternatives, cardiac surgery, community care and hospice, day care centres, rest and recuperation holidays and education.

During this month, CCI will be walking 35 kilometres, a kilometre to mark each year that has passed since the Chernobyl tragedy. This virtual fundraiser, titled 'Walk of Hope', will help support the third generation of victims of Chernobyl.

“It's a nationwide fundraiser and we are hoping everyone around the country will become involved in it,” said Ann Coleman, head of the CCI branch in Castlebar, who has been involved with the branch for over 15 years.

“In 2005, a friend of mine who was involved in it said we could go on a trip to an orphanage Belarus and it was on my to-do list. We went in April and things were rough and tough that time in the orphanage we actually went to.

“Since then, CCI have spent over two million on the orphanage renovating it, and I went the following September.

“All during my working time as a psychiatric nurse, I went as often as I could but since I retired, I go around six times a year to the orphanage.”

Ireland was one of the first responders to the Chernobyl Disaster and for the last 35 years, CCI, founded by Adi Roche, has worked tirelessly on a mission to restore hope, alleviate suffering, and protect current and future generations in the Chernobyl regions, by passionately advocating for the rights of all of those affected.

Register for the walk at https://www.chernobyl-international.com/product/walk-35-kilometres-for-chernobyl/